A broadcast of a signal is received at a first system from a second system at a first time. From the signal, a location of a target associated with the second system and a velocity of the target are determined relative to a location of the first system and a velocity of the first system. At the first system, using the location and the velocity of the first system and using the location and the velocity of the target, a likelihood is computed of a collision between the first system and the second system. A notification is sent from the first system about the likelihood of collision responsive to the likelihood of collision exceeding a threshold likelihood.

Patient support apparatuses, such as beds, cots, stretchers, recliners, or the like, include control systems with one or more image, radar, and/or laser sensors to detect objects and determine if a likelihood of collision exists. If so, the control system controls the speed and steering of the patient support apparatus in order to reduce the likelihood of collision. The control system may be adapted to autonomously drive the patient support apparatus, to transmit a message to a remote device indicating whether it is occupied by a patient or not, and/or to transmit its route to the remote device. The remote device may determine an estimate of a time of arrival of the patient support apparatus at a particular destination and/or determine a distance of the patient support apparatus from the particular destination.

Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.

Example blind spot detection systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a primary vehicle detects a secondary vehicle ahead of the primary vehicle in an adjacent lane of traffic. A method determines dimensions of the secondary vehicle and estimates a vehicle class associated with the secondary vehicle based on the dimensions of the secondary vehicle. The method also identifies a side-view mirror location on the secondary vehicle and determines a blind spot associated with the secondary vehicle based on the vehicle class and the side-view mirror location.

A method of operating a vehicle wherein the method comprises using a distance sensor to determine the distance between a part of the vehicle and an object, and implementing a speed control procedure if the distance detected by the distance sensor falls below a predetermined value, characterized in that the method is implemented only while the vehicle is in reverse gear and for a period of time immediately following disengagement of the reverse gear.

A haulage vehicle includes a body, a load measurement device that measures a mounted load value of the body, a traveling electric motor, and a travel control device that outputs an electric motor command value, the travel control device sets a backward movement limiting set value to ON when it is determined that the haulage vehicle is in execution of either loading work or dumping work, and sets the backward movement limiting set value to OFF when a forward position signal and an accelerator pedal command value are inputted, an electric motor command value formed of a backward movement limiting command value is outputted to the traveling electric motor when the backward movement limiting set value is ON, and an electric motor command value formed of a normal command value is outputted to the traveling electric motor when the backward movement limiting set value is OFF.

A haulage vehicle includes a body, a load measurement device that measures a mounted load value of the body, a traveling electric motor, and a travel control device that outputs an electric motor command value, the travel control device sets a backward movement limiting set value to ON when it is determined that the haulage vehicle is in execution of either loading work or dumping work, and sets the backward movement limiting set value to OFF when a forward position signal and an accelerator pedal command value are inputted, an electric motor command value formed of a backward movement limiting command value is outputted to the traveling electric motor when the backward movement limiting set value is ON, and an electric motor command value formed of a normal command value is outputted to the traveling electric motor when the backward movement limiting set value is OFF.

A vehicle and an adaptive cruise control system (ACC) is provided. The ACC comprises a steering wheel system with a steering wheel arranged to allow the provision of manual steering input to the steering system of the vehicle and a steering angle sensor, wherein the steering system is configured to identify a specific momentary manual steering wheel actuation by comparing data from the steering angle sensor with predetermined thresholds, and to select a next one of the moving or stationary objects in the surroundings in front of said vehicle to control the speed of said vehicle in relation to, based on the direction of the specific momentary manual steering wheel actuation indicated by the steering angle sensor.

A target pathway generating device basically has a generating unit that generates a target pathway at a predetermined timing for controlling the driving of a vehicle in a predetermined section, and a setting unit that sets a target vehicle speed in advance at a section endpoint of the section in which the vehicle is currently driven. The target vehicle speed is used when the generating unit cannot generate a target pathway at the predetermined timing. The setting unit sets the target vehicle speed based on road information in the predetermined section.

A cruise control apparatus controls travel of an own vehicle based on a predicted course which is a future travel course of the own vehicle. The cruise control apparatus includes a first predicted course calculating unit and a second predicted course calculating unit, as a plurality of course prediction means for calculating a predicted course, and is provided with a course change determination unit for determining whether a change in the course is to be performed and a prediction switching unit which performs switching to enable one of a first predicted course calculated by the first predicted course calculating unit and a second predicted course calculated by the second predicted course calculation unit, the switching being based on a result of determination made by the course change determination unit as to whether a change in the course is to be performed.